Molecular cloning and expression of Aven gene in chicken.

Aven was originally identified as a protein that regulates apoptosis by binding to apoptotic regulators, Bcl-xL and Apaf-1. Recently was found that Aven protein is a potent activator of ATM, critical for its DNA damage-induced activation. An Aven cDNA clone was isolated from chicken (Gallus gallus) after screening of a cerebellum cDNA library.